W. B. COLE, NURSERYMAN, PAINESVILLE, OHIO 
NURSERY STOCK SITUATION EXPLAINED 
FRUIT TREE SHORTAGE—Apple, pear, plum and cherry trees are not grown 
direct by sowing seed in the nursery row. It has been found that there are 
very few places where seedlings of the above can be properly and successful¬ 
ly grown. For this reason, nurserymen favorably located as to climatic and 
soil conditions, make a specialty of growing fruit tree seedlings and supply¬ 
ing them at one or two years old to other nurserymen. These fruit tree 
seedlings are then planted out in the nursery row, budded the fall after 
planting, grown two or three years and marketed. 
France has been the main source of supply for fruit tree seedlings in 
the past. A few fruit tree seedlings have been grown in this country, prin¬ 
cipally in Kansas, but these have generally been of inferior quality. During 
the world war the French nurseries have been unable to produce fruit stocks 
in sufficient quantity to meet the demand of the American trade. Further, 
during the same period transportation was demoralized on account of war 
work and all import shipments of seedlings were delayed and arrived in a 
damaged or worthless condition. This, together with an advance in the price 
of seedlings charged by the French nurserymen of approximately 1,000 per¬ 
cent, added still further to the expense of growing the orchard tree. 
To take care of this unusual condition, it has been necessary for the 
nurserymen of this country to advance prices accordingly. As it takes three 
or four years to grow fruit trees, there will necessarily be a shortage for 
at least this length of time after seedlings are again procurable in normal 
quantities. Fruit growers will gain nothing by putting off planting, 
anticipating lower prices for the next three or four years, as all indications 
point to higher prices. Even at the advanced cost of fruit trees, as listed 
this year, orchard planting should be exceedingly profitable. The necessary 
restrictions in planting of commercial orchards that will result from the 
shortage of trees, will mean higher prices for fruit for years to come. All 
available stock should and will be used. 
PEACH TREES—Peach trees are grown from seed planted direct in the nursery 
row, budded and grown two years to salable size without transplanting. The 
scarcity of peach trees this season is the result of partial crop failure and 
inability to get required quantity of good seed. The prospects are that this 
condition will change shortly and that the normal supply of peach trees will 
soon be on the market. 
SMALL FRUITS—Grape vines are not in their usual supply this season, owing 
to partial failure of cuttings planted last spring. Unfavorable weather con¬ 
ditions delayed planting and this was followed by a mid-summer draught, 
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